Christmas on Ice. Shin-Yokohama December 2014
Cristmas on ice
I attended the show on 22. Media is bullshitting everyone as usual. They focused all TV news on Mao but you won't find any Mao banner in the arena. You'll see thousands of D1SK towels, banners and other fan stuff. Probably that's why in news they don't show the audience. I hope Mao doesn't feel bad about it. It's not her fault that media treats Dai like that due to financial interests of JSF who are desperetaly trying to refocuse people's attention on their new milch cow from Dai who they cannot exploit anymore. Good luck with that.
The show was so kind, pure, positive and full of love just like a Christmas show was supposed to be. Dai is in great shape, he landed all jumps with no mistake (3F, 3Z, 3T, 2A, no major jumps of course), once he had a very short exit but I think it was because otherwise he would crash the board of that tiny rink. His spins are fast and flexible, steps are energetic and dynamic. He looks very relaxed, happy, shining and calmly radiating. Champagne and fireplace.
In the opening he was wearing a red Stroll jacket, did 3F, a high Russian split jump and his combo spin. In the 1st part of the show all skaters did their EX. Dai skated Caravan. I didn't see the changes that Ostile mentioned. It was as funny, comedy-like, flirting with sending kisses to public as I saw in FrOI in summer. Yet it was a little softer in movements, less spiky. But I assume it is because Dai feels colder in winter than in August heat, not becuase he wanted to change the spirit of EX
. Did 3F, 3Z jump-wise.
The Act 2 was all about Christmas. Dai opened it with a short number White Christams in lyrical mood. He did 3F and skated with a lot of melting hands lines in very gentle and tender movements. He with Mao closed the show with their collaboration number. Oh god. That's a Disney fairy tale of two royalties, a prince and a princess, but not a couple, who are looking for their halves and sharing some thoughts with each other about that. Dai was in a tender light-blue shirt, the same one as he wore in Sochi gala, and white pants. Mao's dress is a very gentle light-pink color, it might look white on youtube but it is not. I was lucky to be in 1st row of that side of North super-arena where Dai&Mao approached the audience in Finale. Dai was like 50 cm right in front of me. He is as handsome as in photos if not better. Mao too! Some auntie behind me almost pushed me on the ice trying to greet Dai. If I didn't have a lot of PIW experience in situations like that, I probably would have ended up falling right on him. Not that I mind much but still. So I managed to keep the balance.
My next favourite after Dai and Mao in the show was Morozov with his daughter. He was Santa and she was a kid waiting for Santa with a Christmas gift. They did 1A and two dance lifts, one was from I/K LO. The number itself was so humoristic, genki like down to earth dream!
As you know the video is not allowed, so I filmed only ikebanas in the lobby:
They were selling the latest WFS#67 which is not in general sale yet. What a gift for all Dai fans! The whole magazine is only about Dai, with photos, interviews with people who worked with him, etc. But I haven't read anything yet. Still keep looking.
I am off Tokyo for Christmas stuff. If someone attends the last show, please tell us if Kenji became 'Mao' this time.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
